Missing Sooke man confirmed dead, had links to Hells Angels

A Sooke man who had ties to the Nanaimo chapter of the Hells Angels biker gang is dead, according to the man’s family.

Michael Gregory Widner, 39, was last seen March 8 in Sooke and reported missing the following day. Media reports suggest Widner was a prospect for the Hells Angels.

Neither the RCMP,Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit, or theB.C. Coroner Service would confirm whether Widner’s death is a murder, or the cause of death.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.On Sunday, a hiker found a man’s body near Port Renfrew, though the identity of the body, or that it is Widner, has not been established, said Sooke RCMP Staff Sgt. Jeff McArthur.

A resident of Tugwell Road in Sooke, Widner’s car, a black 2003 Volkswagen Golf, was found abandoned in William Edmonds Park near Poirier Lake on Thursday.

Widner’s ties to the Hells Angels biker gang was confirmed by Hells Angels spokesman Rick Ciarniello, after he told the Vancouver Sun Widner was a prospect and his body had been found Sunday.

This came a day after Widner’s spouse, Sabrina, posted a public message on Facebook, announcing her husband’s death.

“It is with a broken heart and overwhelming sadness I share that the police have informed me that my husband’s body has been found. I am with our children holding them tight and keeping them safe and removed from all the attention. His children know that he is in heaven with his brother Steve and at peace.”

While Widner has no criminal record in B.C., McArthur confirmed he was under watch by the RCMP, though wouldn’t say for what.

In 2011, Widner was stopped by Sooke RCMP. Police found Widner possessing $4,980 in cash, 25 grams of marijuana, a hunting knife and four cellphones, which led to a suit by the B.C. Civil Forfeiture director in 2012.

“Mr. Widner either directly participated in the selling of illegal drugs or obtained the money directly or indirectly from the sellers of illegal drugs,” the suit alleged.